The Metropolitan Cathedral of Morelia () is a religious site that is the seat of the Archdiocese of Morelia of the Catholic church in Mexico. It is located as its name itself says in the city of Morelia, capital of the state of Michoacán, Mexico. The cathedral is located in the first square of the city, forming the trace of the Historic Center of Morelia. The building was built in the 18th century at the time of the viceroyalty, it is Baroque in style and is made of pink stone that gives it a peculiar and characteristic color. An important family group headed by Sebastián de Guedea collaborated in its construction for a long period; They were Andrés, Pedro, Diego, Miguel, Anastacio, Lorenzo and Joseph, all with the surname Guedea.

General data of interest

thumb|230px|Front façade

Majestic pink quarry building, in Baroque board style. Inside, the Doric order predominates as the basis of the ornamentation and it has Neoclassical altarpieces. Its construction began in 1660 and was completed in 1744.

File:The earth and its inhabitants (1891) (21100785326).jpg|Cathedral of Morelia in 1891 by Élisée Reclus.

File:Cathedral of Morelia in 1901 (cropped).png|Cathedral of Morelia in 1901. Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia.

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Architectural description

The exterior

thumb|right|West façade of the cathedral.

thumb|Main portal

thumb|Domes

It is a huge colossus of pink quarry with two large towers 66.8 m high, (twin towers) of checkered Baroque style. It has a triple façade (one front and two sides) with carved altarpieces. The temple has a floor plan of the Latin cross type with a length of 96 m and a total width of 62 m. Limiting the atrium is a beautiful wrought iron grille dating from the 19th century.

  • Façades:
  • Tripartite façade: The main façade of the cathedral, which is made up of three bodies (horizontal levels defined by cornices) and corresponds to the Baroque style, faces the main avenue of the city (Avenida Madero), and not the square, as it is customary in most New Spanish cities. The main portal is decorated with sculptures and bas-reliefs that allude to the Transfiguration of Christ, the Adoration of the Shepherds, as well as the Adoration of the Magi. There are also statues of St. Peter, St. Paul, St. John the Baptist, St. Michael the Archangel, St. Agatha of Sicily and St. Rose of Lima.
  • Side Façades:
  • East Portal: This side façade is dedicated to the Virgin of Guadalupe, patron saint of America.
  • West Portal: This side façade is dedicated to St. Joseph, the first patron saint of the city.
  • Towers: On the other hand, the two twin towers, each with three sections and 62 m high (66.7 if the crosses in the topped are considered) cross the portal of the temple, which gives the building an imposing appearance, but does not devoid of grace and balance. One of the towers is crowned with an iron cross, which symbolizes the divine nature of Christ, while the other tower is crowned with a stone cross, which represents the human nature of Jesus.
  • East Tower
  • West Tower
  • Central dome: The main dome is covered with azulejos and inside it is supported by a huge circular tholobate. There is also another dome that crowns one of the building's chapels.
  • Dome of the shrine (Dome of the sagrario)

Interior

thumb|The Neoclassical interior

The interior of the building contrasts with the exterior, since it is Doric in style and consists of three naves, the central one being supported by fourteen columns. In addition, attached to the lateral naves, there are four delicately decorated chapels and multiple Neoclassical altarpieces along the two lateral naves.

  • Naves:
  • Central nave: In the main altar there is a cypress, made up of four columns that support a dome, and inside it a silver manifestor. In the central nave there is a pulpit made of carved wood.
  • Side naves: Two side naves to the central one, have Neoclassical altars dedicated to various saints, in the background the naves are topped by large altars, one on the east side dedicated to the Lord of the Sacristy and another on the west side dedicated to the Sacred Heart, patron saint of the city.
  • East side nave:
  • West side nave:
  • Chapels: the cathedral has four chapels, located at the beginning of the side naves, 2 chapels just below the towers and the other two adjoining. The chapels on the eastern side are dedicated to the Virgen de los Dolores or "La Dolorosa" and to the Tabernacle of the cathedral. On the west side, one is dedicated to the Holy Family and the other is a funerary chapel that houses the marble tombs of Archbishops.
  • Chapel of the Tabernacle (Chapel del Sagrario)
  • Chapel of la Soledad
  • Chapel of la Sagrada Familia or of los Mártires
  • Chapel of San Jerónimo
  • Rooms: has several rooms including the Chapter House, the Sacristy, among others, where you can find old 18th-century and 19th-century paintings and furniture.
  • Sacristy Room:
  • Chapter House:

This magnificent architectural work, due to the clarity of its profiles, chiaroscuro and the way of carving the façades between the buttresses, is compared by Joaquín Bérchez, with the façade of the Granada Cathedral by Alonso Cano and with works by Diego Antonio Díaz in Seville.

Artistic works

It still preserves great treasures. Works of great artistic, religious and historical value.

thumb|left|Altarpiece and Manifestor

  • Goldsmith:
  • "Manifestor:" Of the 18th century,